CAYMAN ISLANDS – Captain Robert Hamaty, Jamaica’s first Consular Representative in the Cayman Islands, was recognised for his service to the two countries and the national honour conferred by the Government of Jamaica, at a luncheon attended by Cayman Premier McKeeva Bush, as well as other top public and private sector officials in the Cayman Islands last Thursday, September 2.
The Jamaica born businessman, who is the founder and managing director of Tortuga Rum Company, which is the major exporter in Cayman, will receive the Order of Distinction (OD), Officer Class, on National Heroes Day, October 18, after serving to promote the best interests of Jamaicans in the Cayman Islands.
“We commend Mr. Hamaty for this national recognition by the Government of Jamaica, and for his exemplary service to the board of the National Building Society of Cayman (NBSC),” stated Earl Jarrett, Acting Chairman of NBSC, which hosted the function, at the Marriott Beach Resort, Grand Cayman.
“Mr. Hamaty is an outstanding Jamaican whom we can all be proud of,” said Mr. Jarrett, who is also the General Manager of Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS). “With the support of his wife Carlene and their children Basil and Monique, he has served his country and contributed to the economy both in the Cayman Islands and Jamaica.”
Premier McKeeva Bush told guests, including several members of his Cabinet along with the Cayman Chief Magistrate, about the valuable contribution Mr. Hamaty continues to make in diplomatic and trade relations between Jamaica and Cayman. And he noted that, as the Honourary Consul, until he retired last year, Mr. Hamaty worked for more than 16 years to develop this relationship.
Mr. Hamaty hails from the parish of Westmoreland, where his family has had a long association with JNBS, the parent organization for the NBSC.
The former Air Jamaica pilot migrated to Cayman in 1978, where he founded the Tortuga Rum Company. That organization has diversified its product line beyond the original blended rums, to include Tortuga Rum Cakes with bakeries in Cayman, Jamaica, and Barbados; and now is distributed internationally, with a focus on North America.
Earl Jarrett (left), Acting Chairman of National Building Society of Cayman, expresses appreciation for the contribution made by retired Jamaican Consul in Cayman Capt. Robert Hamaty.
Among those attending the function were Hon. Oliver Clarke, JNBS Chairman; Hon. Mike Adam, Housing Minister; Elaine Harris, Acting Jamaican Consular Representative; Hon. Samuel Bulgin, Attorney General; Hon. Anthony Smellie, Chief Justice; Dunbar McFarlane, NBSC General Manager; Carlton Barclay, JNBS Assistant General Manager; Leon Mitchell, JNBS Marketing Executive; Danny Scott, Cayman First CEO; and Michael Godfrey, Architect.
The centre of conversation, Cayman Premier Hon. McKeeva Bush (from left) talks with retired Jamaican Consul in Cayman Capt. Robert Hamaty, businessman David A Guilfoyle and Jamaica National Building Society Chairman Oliver Clarke. They were attending a luncheon at the Marriott Beach Resort, Grand Cayman, on Thursday, September 2, to recognize the contribution Mr. Hamaty, who is being conferred with Order of Distinction, Officer Class by Governor-General, Sir Patrick Allen.
